Highway guard fence



sept. 13, 1932.- A. J. STANZIALE n r1,877,074

` HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Filed Jan. 3.' 1931 Patented Sept. 13,` 1932 UNITED STATES ANTHONY .1. s'rANzIALE, or sHIcHs'HINNYJnNNsYLvANIA l HIGHWAY GUARD FENC Application led January 30, 1931. Serial No. 512,455.

This invention relates to fences for use along highways at dangerous places where the fences are liable to be struck by motor cars and other vehicles; and it consists inl the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed which permit the fence posts to yield pivotally in all directions and thereby prevent them from being broken.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front View of a portion of a highway fence constructed accordin to this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a portion of one of the fence posts and its foundation block, and is drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the foundation block with the fence post removed. Fig. 4 is a detail front view showing the hinge which connects the cable to the fence post. Fi 5 is a side view of the 2q same. Fig. 6 is a ront view of the clip which holds the cable connected to the end posts. Fig. 7 is a front view of the same.

The foundation blocks 10 which support the fence posts 12 are sunk in the ground at one side of the highway, and are arranged at any suitable distances apart. Each block 10 is provided with a ball-shaped socket 14 in its top part, and has a vertical chamber 15 at the bottom of the socket. Two guide rods A 16 are arranged vertically in the chamber 15,

and their lower end portions are anchored in the block below the chamber. For the purpose of anchoring these rods two lsheet iron plates 17 are secured in the block, and are spaced apart, one above the other, and connected together by bolts 18. Any other approved means may however be used for anchoring the two guide rods in place.

A crossbar 19 is slidable upon the upper parts of the guide rods, and is kept in place by nuts screwed upon them above the crossbar.

A rod 20 is slidable loosely in a. central hole in the crossbar, and has a hook 2l at its top. A nut 22 is screwed upon thelower end portion of the rod 20, and 24 is ya helical spring which encircles the rod 20, between the crossbar 19 and the nut 22. This spring normally holds a shoulder on the hook pressed against the top ofl the crossbar. 1 i

V Thefence post is preferably formed of wood, but it may bevmade of any other apy proved material. The lower end portion of the fence post is secured to a ball-shaped member 25, which is mounted inthe ballshaped socket 14.l This member and socket form a ball and socket joint between the fence post and its foundation block, which permits the fencev post to oscillate pivotallyin every direction. The member 25 is preferably formed hollow andof cast metal,

-and its lower-part 26 has a heavyweight of metal which assists in holding the fence post in an` upright position.

approved way, and 27 is ascrewthreaded end portionv formed on the post and screwed into a corresponding .part ofthe ball-shaped member. f

An eye28 is securedv to the bottom of the ball-shaped member, upon the axis of the fence post, and engages' with the hook 21 at the top of the rod 20, so that the fence post is normally held in a vertical position by the spring 24, and is free to oscillate in every direction.

Flexible cables 30 are provided, and are preferably wire cables. These cables are supported in a horizontal position in grooves 31 formed in the fence posts. The cable is prevented from sliding laterally out of each groove, by a block 32 which closes the open Y end of the groove. This block 32 is secured to a hinge 33 which is attached to the post at one end.

The movable part of the hinge has a slot 34 which slips over a staple 85 on the post, and is kept in place by a pin 36. The cable is free to slide longitudinally in its groove, and can easily be removed and replaced when necessary.

The end portions of the cables are connected to the end posts of the fence by clips 40. Each clip is provided with teeth 41, and 42 is a toothed jaw having ends 43 which are slidable in slots 44 in the'sides of the clip. The cable is gripped between the teeth vof the clip and its jawe which is pressed on The fence post is secured to theball-shaped member jin any the cable by a screw 45, which is screwed into the top of the cap opposite to its teeth. The clips hold the cables extendedbetween the posts, and permit the cables to slide longitudinally in onev direction.

When a motor car or other object is driven against the fence its posts tilt over to a. limited extent against the pressure of the springs, and if the impact has not been so great as to destroy the fence, its posts are restored to their upright positions automatically, on the removal of the pressure against the fence members.

The line 50 shows the usual ground level,

but the foundation blocks may be placed more or less below this level, as found desirable. The chambers 15 in the foundation blocks can be filled with oil or grease, if desired, to prevent the springs and rods from rusting.

v`What I claim is:

A fence post structure comprising a foundation block adapted to be embedded in the ground and having a heniispherical recess in its upper side and a cavity extending downwardly from said recess part way through th'eiiblock, parallel guide rods anchored in the block below the recess and extending upwardly in the recess, a cross-piece upon the rods having a central opening, a post having a base, hemispherical at its lower end, fitting in said socket, a rod hingedly connected tothe central part of the base and extending downwardly from said base through the opening in said cross-piece, and a compression spring interposed between the lower I end of the rod and the cross-piece.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

,ANTHONY J. STANZIALE.` 

